Staying Healthy On The Go

Hey, friends! This morning, I’m off with Lucas to his one month checkup, and since he’s due to be getting a nice ol’ shot, I’m planning on crying my eyes out and devoting the rest of my day solely to him (mom guilt, much?). So to keep you all entertained, I am super happy to present a fun guest post to you all today, courtesy of Laura. Laura gives some great tips on how to stay healthy on the go here, so be sure to keep reading and check it out. I’ll be back soon! xoxo

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Hello my fellow ‘Sweet Tooth Sweet Life’ readers! I’m Laura from Fueling a Life – a new blog where I write about how I fuel my life with fitness, fashion, food, and fun!

I’m a fitness fanatic, (wannabe) fashionista, and fervent foodie.

Oh, I’m also a college student, learning how to balance double majoring, health coaching, blogging, interning, and enjoying my social life, all while maintaining a healthy lifestyle… It sounds like a lot, and at times it can be – but with patience and positivity, it can be done!

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Before I start blabbing away about what I’m actually here to say, I just want to thank Courtney for allowing me to get on here and talk to all of you! I’ve been a fan of her blog for over a year and I’m honored to be a little part of it! Thanks, Courtney!

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Without further ado…

As you may have noticed, I’m a pretty busy girl. And as you may know, us busy folk often find ourselves putting ourselves last. We prioritize work, school, kids, relationships – basically everything – before our own well-being. We’re constantly ‘go, go, go!’ and our health – and happiness – can suffer. It’s appropriate to address this topic since Courtney is a new and soon-to-be working mom like so many of you, and a new school year is beginning for all of us students. It’s the perfect time to regroup and learn how to stay healthy on the go!

Here are some of the ways I try to make it all work:

1) Pack.

You know yourself – and what time your stomach usually starts to growl! If you know how long you’ll be out, decide what meals or snacks you’ll need while you’re gone.

For example, if I’ll be out between 4 and 5:30 and don’t plan to make a pit stop at Dunkin or Starbucks, I’ll toss almonds and an apple in my bag. This way I have a snack on hand when I start feeling my energy level plummet. Plus, I’m making a healthy choice and saving money!

2) Wake up earlier.

I know… I hate the sound of this one too. But if you get up just 20 minutes earlier, you can squeeze in a quick workout before you shower. By the time you’re done, you’ll feel more awake than you would had you slept a few more minutes – you’ll also feel super productive (and like you earned that cup of coffee)!

Mug shot. …Get it?

If I won’t have any time in the afternoon or evening (or if I know I’ll be way too tired by then), I’ll wake up an hour earlier so I can go for a run or fit in a full workout.

If I’ll have some time to squeeze in a short workout later in the day, I’ll wake up just 20-30 minutes early and do the ‘first half’ of my day’s workout.

Breaking up your workout not only makes it easier to fit in, but it’s also easier on your mind! Two ‘25 minute workouts’ sounds much better than one ‘50 minute workout’…and at the end of the day, the results are the same!

3) Plan.

My planner is practically my bible. I’m a total to-do list dork, but it helps me stay organized and sane! You don’t have to be a total freak like me (who uses sticky notes like it’s her job) to keep your life in order.

Each night, scribble a simple list (or use your iPhone app). This will not only remind you what needs to get done tomorrow, but it will also help you figure out what meals/snacks to pack, and when you can squeeze a workout in.

On Sunday night, I recommend making a tentative ‘week plan’ (and if you’re feeling motivated you can map out meals and workouts). At least get a general idea of the week to come. If you know one day is beyond busy or you have something fun planned for the entire day – make that your rest day (or one of them if you take two per week). Planning your day(s) off will give you motivation to get a good workout in on the other days!

As weird as it sounds, you should schedule your social life! Students may not need to do this one as much since we live, go to class, and go out with our friends – but parents should! Plan a date or evening out with friends, call up a babysitter ahead of time and don’t cancel when you start having ‘mom guilt’! You’ll be rejuvenated and actually able to parent your kids better after some time with people your age. (<– Note from Courtney – SO true! Even just an hour away can make you feel 100 times better!)

4) Rest.

I’m totally guilty of over-working myself. In high school, I went right from school to XC or track practice, then straight home for hours of ‘AP’ homework and studying. Weekends were filled with meets, hangouts with friends, and then cramming on Sunday night. I went nonstop every single day. I’m not sure how I made it out alive – but I realized I just can’t do that anymore.

Since I chose not to continue running competitively in college, I now plan rest days – a concept that was foreign to me back in high school. As I’m sure all of you know, your muscles need to recover and rebuild, and your mind needs to refresh.

Sometimes it can be almost impossible to find time to relax. I know most moms feel like they can never (or ‘should’ never) take a break from their kids, and taking a break from work or studying can make working women and students feel like they’ll fail. But the truth is – we might actually fail (our children, our job, or our classes) if we don’t step away for a minute (or twenty).

Take at least ten minutes every couple hours to put down what you’re doing and clear your head. Some things you can do for a few:

Sit and meditate

Jam out to a few songs

Take a short nap

Take a walk

Watch one episode of your favorite show (but seriously – just one)

Work out (if it’s not a rest day!)

Catch up with your favorite blogs

Online shop (well, maybe just browse)

Do whatever your hobby is!

Just make sure that once the time you allot yourself is up, you get back to work!

5) Don’t stress.

The best way to avoid going crazy and getting totally stressed out is to…

NOT STRESS.

I know that sounds like the worst piece of advice ever, but hear me out.

If you miss a workout (and it’s not ‘supposed to be’ a rest day), or you eat junk for every meal, or you fail a huge test, or your kids go to bed upset, or you feel like nothing’s going right – DO NOT WORRY.

We all have ‘one of those days’. And that’s okay!

Just stay positive, learn to laugh, put things in perspective (will it matter tomorrow/next week/next month/next year?), and imagine being in a happy place.

Give these 5 simple tips a try to ensure that ‘one of those days’ doesn’t happen often.

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If you’d like to see more of the workouts I do, the delicious and (mostly) nutritious food I eat, the outfits I wear, and the friends, family, and fun that fill my days – check out my blog, Fueling a Life, and follow me on Twitter and Pinterest! You can also email me at anytime at fuelingalife@gmail.com – I would love to hear from all of you!

Question from Courtney: How do YOU stay healthy on the go? Any tips or tricks? Feel free to share below!

About Courtney

I'm a working mom of two beautiful little boys, Lucas and Alex, and I began writing Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life in April 2010. I enjoy chronicling my love of food (healthy and indulgent!), baking, motherhood, fitness, fashion, and everything in between!

These are some awesome tips Laura! I know a big one for me is to walk around a bit during the day. I also had my office order me a standing workstation, so I can stand a bit and use my computer rather than sitting all day long. This has been a huge plus for me!Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat recently posted..Target Practice – Adjusting

Oh yeah…I forgot to mention that I always carry healthy snacks with me — like Luna bars, raw almonds or a banana so I always have something if I’m in a pinch.Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat recently posted..Target Practice – Adjusting

Thanks Laura these are great tips! I think the most important thing is to plan ahead and pack! whenever I’m rushing I always end up having to pick something up, and it’s always harder to find healthy options that wayJamie @ fitfortherun recently posted..Runner’s Burnout

great tips about breaking up the workout into two short ones a day! It’s not worth it for me to shower before work (it takes me too long to get ready and since I work with little kids, I like to shower before I get into bed at night) so I dont like to get super sweaty in the mornign but doing a quick workout-maybe a strength workout-would be perfect for the morning. Thanks!

These tips are great! Last year I woke up a half hour earlier to do a yoga video every morning and it helped me so much. I always like to have an idea of my plan for the day. It’s nice to be aware of the whole day! I need to remember sometimes to not stress so much. I have to tell myself that it’s not a big deal in the big picture!Leigha @ Minougirl recently posted..8th Grade Recognition

Great advice! I totally agree about waking up earlier. If I can get a workout in early on, I start my day on the right foot, and I won’t have to ditch my gym plans if something comes up later in the day!
And, you’re right– we certainly do all need that reminder to rest! I was the same way in high school– full-time XC/track runner. With all those meets + workouts + pressure from classes, I don’t know how I did it.Rebecca @ Soft Serve and Squats recently posted..Serious Squattin’

LOVE THIS! So cute. I’m out of school and I’m taking a year off to just relax and spend time with my family and fiancé instead of working. I’m lucky enough to have a fiancé who can support me while I do this. However, I do understand what it’s like to have basically NO time to breathe. These are awesome tips!Amanda @ Pink Runner Girl recently posted..I Killed My Butt Yesterday

Good luck with the shots! Try not to react too much to the shots, he will learn to be “scared” or “stoic” based on your reactions.

I remember Jayson’s first set, they gave him the runs and he screamed for two hours that evening because he was so unhappy (slight temp, legs sore, etc). Jayson had his second round yesterday and I’m happy to report that he was less dramatic this go around but we were up multiple times last night due to his being uncomfortable (seemingly every time the tylenol wore off). Speaking of which, be sure to ask the doc how much infants tylenol or motrin he can have before leaving their office. Also, a luke warm tub will help when he’s fussy, at least it worked for Jayson.Christy recently posted..Grins N Giggles

I am so glad to read a post like this. I think sometimes we forget about ourselves and put everyone else first. I’m a mother of a 12yr old and also struggling to conceive for our next baby. With all the stress this brings, I tend to eat more, which won’t be good, if I do end up pregnant. Planning out my weekly schedule and remembering to pack lite snacks should help cut down on a lot of extra weight. Thanks for reminding us mom’s out there, that we do need breaks every so often.Melissa@ Forloveandtravel recently posted..There Is A First For Everything

Hope the little guy handles the shots well! Addie did fine with her shots until this past time … then she got super fussy and I had to give her baby Tylenol. Just take advantage of the extra cuddles today! 😉Kristen @ notsodomesticated recently posted..How to stay sane while traveling with an infant.

Good luck with Lucas’ appointment!
Hope everything goes well!
Great tips for staying healthy while on the go. I always make sure I pack water and Snacks whenever I’ll be out and about, just because you never know when your blood sugar will crash a little and that’s not a pretty thing to experience.Lisa recently posted..How To Reach Your Goals With Patience

My trick is to “fit fitness” into my lifestyle and not the other way around. For example, I have an embarrassing obsession with reality television, but I don’t have the time, nor would I feel good about myself if I watched it on the couch constantly. So, sometimes I put it on my ipad and watch at the gym. I get in a workout AND I get to watch what I love 🙂Jamie @ Sometimes Healthy Living recently posted..When Dogs Fly and Oreos Fry

This is all great advice!
The biggest thing for me is to plan ahead. I schedule everything in my planner and every night I make my to-do list for the following day. I prep meals, write out workouts, and more – doing all of that prepping leaves no room for excuses!Danica @ It’s Progression recently posted..Half Marathon #4 Race Recap

These are great tips! i agree that as moms as it’s hard to take a break but I’m learning to appreciate It more as time goes by since my baby is two months old now. And I definitely have been learning to do short bouts of cardio or exercises throughout the day whenever I find the time and energy,haha. It really helps! And Courtney I hope the shots go well! it is pretty heartbreaking to see your little one “suffer ” through shots 🙁

These are great tips! I definitely like to take snacks along with me when I know I’ll be out for a while. Even if I don’t eat the snacks, it’s always better to have them so I don’t become ravenous (no fun for anyone).Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves recently posted..Lucky Charms on My Smoothie

my best tip for eating healthy is to keep alot of fruit around the house.
I’ve been going to a new place by my house called growers direct. They sell fruit and vegetables directly from the growers, so it is the best fruit you can get and is about half the price it is in the store. I just buy about 10 different types of fruit and so i just snack on that. It really fills me up and reduces my cravings for sweets. I recommend it if you are trying to lose weight or just eat better.aubrey recently posted..Custom Voice Prompts For Your Business Phone System